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Fine / Small Motor

Children 30-36 months generally are able to do the following:

  • Demonstrates an emerging ability to grasp a crayon or marker by gripping with whole hand or fingers; may use whole arm movements to make marks 
  • Imitates horizontal and vertical lines 
  • Begins to open and close scissors to snip paper 
  • Assembles non-interlocking puzzles with five or more pieces 
  • Uses fingers and whole-arm movements to manipulate and explore objects
  • Places shapes in shape sorter, points at picture or object, places objects into containers 
  • Turns knobs and tears paper
  • Uses a variety of tools including squeeze and release tongs/eye dropper, strings large beads, manipulate clay/play doh